The Inevitable Feat for a Man Over Six Feet

Today’s post is just me sharing a few thoughts reflecting on my experiences as a taller person who appreciates style. Everybody wants to feel good in their clothes, you want to look great and feel confident in everything that you wear. But for men over 6 feet tall it can be a constant struggle to achieve this goal. Now, I’m a modest 6”2 and my proportions aren’t standard so shopping can be a huge challenge. 

Before I share my thoughts, I also want to note that there are many communities of people who are struggling to get their style needs met. Issues such as ableism, sizeism, affordability and other forms of exclusion in the fashion industry. Designers and brands need to do better to create diverse options for diverse people. Don’t even get me started on unethical production issues in the fashion industry. Let’s do better people!

Back to tall people problems, it's hard to find stylish options that accurately fit taller bodies.  Some guys have elongated torso, longer/shorter arms, and legs, etc. Some of the most popular retail chains continue to ignore these issues forcing taller men to either shop elsewhere or get inventive with what they purchase and how we style our clothes.

A big part of the struggle isn’t just finding quality pieces, but also caring for these pieces. Something as simple as a t-shirt requires preserving the shape and cut of the garment. I’m sure I’m not the only one that is extra cautious about how all my items are laundered. I’d hate to get a perfectly fitted button up only to wash it and discover that it shrank in the dryer on a low heat cycle. Yes, clearly, I’m still not over it! 

Taller men already have a handful of “rules” that are meant to give the appearance of being more proportional.  These include avoiding:

·      Shirts with a large collar because it can make your head look small

·      Pants that are too loose because it can make your legs look too skinny

·      Blazers and suit jackets that are too short because it can make your legs look too long or your torso too short

·      Avoid non neutral monochromatic colours because you may end up looking like “Gumby”.  I’m not saying this, but other people have cause it’s a cruel cruel world.

Personally, I wouldn’t over think these rules because there are many factors to consider as not all tall men are built the same. The foundation of great classic style for any man is always to ensure that the garments fit you well and that you are true to your style.

I want to encourage men to think about playing with layers. I know a lot of guys worry about looking to bulky, but layers are something taller people can pull off much more freely than our shorter friends. Adding layers gives an outfit more dimension, flow, and ease. It helps to break up an outfit and creates a new focal point to offset areas that can highlight the items that don’t quite fit.

Also, consider switching up your shoe game. Get bolder with your shoe collection. Try to invest in shoes with interesting texture or colours to redirect a person’s gaze towards your feet instead of you hem line. Now, this is not an invitation to go crazy because a bolder shoe can be a risk, so I suggest sticking with classic styles in a unique colour. For example, try burgundy loafers or blue suede boots. Please, steer clear of the multi-colour “hype beast” sneakers.  Please avoid this look because it never ages well, and it does not achieve a classic, timeless look.

Remember at the end of the day, there are no hard rules for how you dress yourself. Take advantage of your height, and let it motivate you to be selective with your fashion choices. What are some of your shopping hacks? Do you have a hard time shopping for clothing that fits you correctly? As always let’s keep the conversation going in the comments, until next time.